Invalid-bed



.1. HENDERSON.

mvaup BED. APPLICATION HITED MAYIB, 1917 Patented une 24, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I WITN ESSES ATTORNEY J. J. HENDERSON.

INVALID BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1911.

1,307,668. PatentedJune 24, 1919.

WITNESSES a; Nolan's Psrsns 00.. manna-Lima, w AsmNcmN n. c.

upon

J'OHN' JAYHEN'DEBSON, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

INVALID-BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24., 1919.

Application filed May 18, 1917. v Serial No. 169,512. 7

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JAY HENDERSON, a citizen of'the United States,residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawneeand State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Invalid-Bed, of which the following is aspecification. i I

This invention has reference to invalid beds andits object is to providemeans whereby access may be had through a mattress on the bed, with themattress supported springs, to a vessel below the mattress, and when thevessel is not in use the supporting surface. of the mat'ress is restoredto its original condition, wherefore the patient is not in any waydiscommoded by considerable section of the mattress may be bodily"removed therefrom. The arrangement is such that parts'to be manipulatedmaybe readily reached from one side of the bed, and the full thicknessof the mattress is utilized for supporting purposes, while the patientis enabled to rest easily, since even when the removable section is inits normal position in the mattress, all parts are spring supported. a

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practical form-ofthe invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long assuch changes and, modifications come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings I I Figure 1 is an upright section through the portionof the bed embodying the invention, showing the mattress opening closedand the vessel lowered.

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the removable mattress section toone side and the vessel raised. 7

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1 withthe vessel and carrier omitted.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the vessel and the carrier.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the removable mattress section and the doorstructure carrying it. I

Referring to the drawings there is shown a mattress 1 supported uponsprings 2 indiuneven support despite the fact that av cated as of thelink fabric type, but it is to be understood that the invention issusceptlbl e of use with other types of springs, wherefore the showingof the drawingsisto be taken as indicative of any form of springs whichmay be adopted. Furthermore, there is shown in the drawings a bed frame3 including legs 4 all of which'may 1goiform to the usual practice ininvalid e s. I i

At an intermediate point in the length and width of the springs, or atany other desired point, a section of the springs is cut away and theedges of the cut away portion are made fast to a frame 5 which may be ametallic frame preferablyof flat material ofsufficient gage for thepurpose. indicated as a rectangular frame of suitable size and shape,and while a rectangular and approximately square frame is foundto' bepreferable, such frame may be of other render it resistant to distortingforces. The

door 9 is connected along one edge to a corresponding portion of theframe 5 by hinge members 10, 11, the members 10 being fast to the frame5 and the members 11 to the door 9 in suitably spaced relation, while arod or bar 12 extending'through the hinge members 10 and 11 serves as apintle. One end 13 of the bar 12 is continued from the hinge portion ofthe door across what constitutes its under face,then along that edge ofthe door remote from the hinged edge and returned back toward. thehinged edge at the side of the door remote from the belatterconstituting a manipulating handle.

The bar or rod 13 forms, a support for the door from the hinge end tothe opposite end, thus greatly stiffening the door. The two extensions14 and 15 constituting a manipuginning of\the bar 13, which latter isthen. I

lating handle are normallyengaged behind a hook or support 16 close toone edge of the bed, and from which hook or support the manipulatingmembers 14 and 15 may be readily disengaged when it is desired to permitor cause the door to swing downwardly about its hinges away from theopening 8, it being understood that the door 9 is on the under side ofthe mattress 2 in the installed position of the bed, and swingsdownwardly away from the mattress and upwardly toward the mattress.

In order to more certainly maintain the door inthe closed position thanby the manipulating members 14 and 15 and the hook 16, there is provideda bolt 17 ,slidable in holding guide members 18 on the bottom face ofthe door 9, there being two such members 18, since the bolt 17 "maybeofU form. Fast to the yoke portion of the bolt 17 is a manipulating lever19 pivoted to the under face ofthe door and having a handle extension 20within reach of one side of the bed. A keeper 21 is made fast to theframe 5 in the path of the legs of the bolt 17 to support thecorresponding edge of the door in firm relation to the frame 5 when thebolt 17 is thrown tothe locking position. It will, of course, beunderstood that other means for the purpose may replace the bolt 17.

The mattressl is formed with an opening 22 therethrough coinciding withthe opening 8 through the frame 5. The opening 22 is made tapering in arising direction, so

that its wider portion is at the under face of the mattress. There isalso provided a mattress section 23. constituting a plug for the opening22, and this mattress section may be of a size and shape to snuglyv fitthe opening 22 and when so fitting it the top ofthe plug 23 is on 'alevel with the top of the mattress, thus leaving the supporting surfaceof the mattress practically the same all over, wherefore a patient neednot beaware so far as feeling is concerned of the fact that the mattresshas a hole through it and the hole is provided with a closure or plug.

ment.

Sewed or otherwise secured to the under face of the mattress is a strip24 of fabric such as canvas or the like, and this strip is so locatedand of such width as to in part be outside of the frame 5 and partlyoverride the outer portion of the frame. By providing the strip 24 witheyelets or other suitable means it may be secured to the frame 5 bylacing 25 or. in any other appropriate manner, whereby the mattress; ismadefast to the frame 5 and therefore to the springs 2 againstaccidental displace- By the employment of lacing the mattress may bedisconnected from the frame whenever desired, and again secured thereto.The line ofsewing of the strip'24 bottom of the springs or mattress.

point about midway of the height of the pail encircled by a hoop 29 towhich the strips may be made secure bysolderiug or in any otherappropriate way. The strips 28 have outstanding 6Xte1'1Sl0I1S 30 Wl1lCl1may be so arranged as to be substantially radial to the pail and whenthe parts are in position substantially parallel with the Connected tothe outer end of each eXtension30 is a cord 31 passed about a pulley32-, :or a rm froin the springs 2. The pulleys 32 are arranged close tothe corners ofthe frame '5 and at one corner there is-a group of pulleys32, or a ring through which all of the cords individual to the cord andsuspended pass, so that the cords are grouped together 5 and secured toa mug 33 which under certain circumstances may be engaged in a hook 3l'fast to theframe 3 near one corner. The length of the cords and theirarrangement is such-that when the ring 33' is engaged by the hook 34 thebasket or carrier 20 is raised close to the under-face -o'fthe mattressand the pail 27 has its upperend within the opening 22 against the innerwall thereof and also close to the top -face of the mattress. In orderto permit liftingo'f the pail it is necessary toremove the plug 23 fromthe opening 22,-and this isaccomplished by withdrawing the bolt 17 andreleasing the manipulating members14- and 15 fronr the holding device16, whereupon the plug 23 may be dropped about the axis of the pintle 12until it is well out .of the way of the pail 27 and the plug isheldinthis position by a hook 35 which may depend from the mattress andmembers 14 and 15.

here there is suflicient room to drop the plug 23 to the open positionwithout "strile engage the ing the pail 27,-the latter mayre'maindirectly under the opening 22-andrest upon the floor or other support uponwhich the bed is placed. VVherethe distance'is too small for thismovement the pail 27 when lowered so as to rest upon the floor may bemovedlto one side or the other of th-e plug 23 and be afterward movedinto position for elevation into the opening a The structure is devoidof complicatedor heavy mechanism and may be readily-ma" nipulated' fromone side of thebed, and, moreover, the plug 23 fitting snugly into'theopening 22 effectively completes the mattress, so that when in place itis unobtrusive to the patient. Moreover, the attachment so far as theplug 23 and its sup-ports areconcerned is effectively a part of thesprings, so that the patient is not aware, so far as feelings areconcerned, of the presence of the attachment, but may rest as easilyupon a mattress provided with the attachment as upon a mattress devoidof the attachment.

It is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of variousstructural changes which would naturally suggest themselves to oneskilled in the manufacture of such devices, and is by no means confinedto the shapes and proportions, or even the materials, shown anddescribed.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment in invalid beds already inexistence, or the mattress and springs may be specially made for thepurpose of embodying the invention.

What is claimed is 1. An attachment for invalid beds comprising amattress with an openin therethrough, sustaining bed springs for t emattress provided with an opening therethrough corresponding in positionto the opening through the mattress, a flat metal frame fast to themattress about the opening therethrough and fast to the springs aboutthe opening in said springs, said frame constituting a connectionbetween the mattress and springs, a door hinged at one side to the frameat one side of the openin therethrough, and a plug for the opening trough the mattress fast to the door.

2. An attachment for invalid beds comprising a mattress and sustainingbed springs therefor, both provided with correspondin 'ly locatedopenings, a metal frame surrounding the openings and fast to andconstituting a connection between the mattress and springs, a doorhinged atone side to the frame at one side of the opening therethrough,a plug for the opening through the mattress fast to the door, and vesselcarrying means suspended from the frame and movable from and toward saidframe to permit the opening and closing of the door and the movement ofthe vessel into and out of the opening through the mattress.

3. An attachment for invalid beds comprising bed springs of thecontinuous-supporting type provided with an intermediate opening, areinforcing frame secured to the springs about the opening, and amattress having an opening coinciding with the opening through'thesprings, said mattress being provided with a connecting strip havingmeans whereby the mattress may be made fast to the reinforcing frame.

frame to carry the tapered opening through the mattress plug for thetaper opening in the mattress fast on the door, a carrier beneath theframe, a vessel adapted to the carrier and at its upper end of a size tolodge against the walls of the opening through the mattress intermediateof the top and bottom of said opening, and flexible strands forsustaining the carrier from the frame, said strands and carrier having arange of movement to elevate the vessel on the carrier into engage mentwith the taper walls of the passage through the mattress.

5. In an invalidbed, a mattress with an opening therethrough taperingtoward the upper surface of the mattress, and a vessel carrier inunderriding relation to the mattress and suspended therefom, thesuspension means comprising a series of flexible strands having a commonpoint of manipulation, said carrier having a range of movement to causea vessel sustained thereby to enter the taper opening through themattress and lodge against the wall thereof.

6. In an invalid bed, a mattress with an opening therethrough taperingtoward the upper surface of the mattress, a tapering mattress section orplug fitting the opening through the mattress, supporting bed springsfor the mattress having a cutaway portion corresponding in location to.the opening through the mattress and of larger area, a reinforcingframe fast to the bed springs about the opening therethrough and to themattress, a door hinged to and carried by the frame and in turn carryingthe tapered mattress section or plug, and a vessel carrier suspendedfrom the reinforcing frame beneath the mattress and movable up and downtoward and from the the vessel into and out of to lodge at the upperlimit of its movement in said tapered opening against the side wallsthereof.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN J AY I-IENDERSO'N.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

